Marine propeller



floating propeller l'sh fis.

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Another bamifeaturey of the lconvejnjtwigonalvi, .warme pxfppeller assembly is ,thefy lack'. ,4 of provisioifor y Ishaft'-andstrutgberfeb S. ection'taken alongvr Fig. 'I is a view in cross-section taken along- `the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing the longitudinal water .channels of the non-metallic bearing memberfor the propeller hub. A

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a portion of the stern under water portion of the marine vessel is shown at I which is provided withsuitable struts or brackets 2 for carrying a strut barrel 3, for supporting the propeller and shaft assembly, the propeller being indicated at 4, the propeller hub at 5 and the propeller shaft at 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, the propeller shaft 6 is a floating shaft, it being disposed in spaced relation to a replaceable non-corrosive hard metal quill, or sleeve 1, which is xedly mounted on the bracket 3 so as to be non-rotatable.

Near its stern end the propeller shaft is provided with splines 8 to engage a replaceable noncorrosive hard metal sleeve `9 flxedly carried by a propeller hub 5 so as to constitute a driving connection between the shaft and the propeller 4. The assembly is held in position by a screw nut fairwater, or hub cap III screwed on the screw thread propeller shaft extension II and held -inv place by a transverse pin, I2 extending through the fairwater and propeller shaft extension. a

Interposed longitudinally between the rotatable propeller hub and the stationary sleeve 1 vand radially between the rpropeller hub and the kbracket 3 is a non-metallic water-lubricated Cutless bearing fixed to the propeller hub, the longitudinal cylindrical portion being designated at I3 and its'radial circular flange at`rl4. v

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the flange I4 of this water-lubricated bearing is provided with a'plurality of radial grooves I5 extending inwardly from the exterior tothe outer surface of the sleeve 1. cylindrical portion I3 of the bearing is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending channels I6 in its inner surface. These channels I6 may be straight, as shown, or spiral. In the rear portion of the propeller hub are arranged Voutlet passages I1. Thus when under way the water is drawn in through channels I5 of the, bearing flange I4 which face the rear surface I 9 of the stationary bracket 3.4 The bearing, being rotatably carried by the propeller hub, th water in the' channels I5 and the film of water between these faces supports the load imposed upon the bearing in its contact with the bracket surface I9. The same is true of the water in thechannels I6 in the cylindrical bearing portion I3 and its rotative engagement with the sleeve 1. The outlet ports I1, registering with channels I6, insure water circulation and discharge of foreignl abrasive substancesthat may enter the bearing channels. Centrifugal force may cause a reversal of the direction of water flow but the resultant effect will be the same as far as lubrication of rubbing surfaces is concerned.

For forward propulsion the propeller' shaft ro. tates in the direction of the arrow and the bearing flange I4 acts 'as a thrust bearing between the propeller h'ub and the -bracket Asurface I9.

For astern propulsion the propeller shaft obviously rotates in the opposite direction. The thrust bearing for such operation isfshown as comprising a faired sleeve 2| keyed Ato the propeller shaft 6 by a key 22, with a water-lubriJ cated non-metallic Cutless bearing 23 carried by the sleeve 2| and bearing against the forward .surface 24 of the supporting bracket 3. lThis bearing 23, as more clearly shown i`n Fig. 3, is'

' there has been accomplished the provision of a provided with va plurality of radial channels 25 extending from the exterior to the propeller shaft in order that the water drawn in through the radial channels .provides a supporting water film for supportingy the load imposed upon this thrust bearing during astern operation.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that full floating propeller shaft which isrelieved of all rotative metallic bearing contact and resultant abrasive wear. This is true by reason of the fact that the lbearing contacts have been restricted-to a stationary sleeve 1, in spaced relation to the propeller shaft 6, and the Cutless" non-metallic water-lubricated bearing members I3,y `I4 and 23,v one of which, namely I3, I4, is carried by the propeller hub 5 and the other, 23, by the propeller shaft 6.

' As previously described, and as shown in Fig. 1, the outboard arrangement of the strut and strut barrel, together with the quill 1 at the stern of the boat for housing the propeller and propeller shaft eliminates overhang of the propeller shaft which is present in the conventional assembly. Thus by the location of the bearing assembly the cantilever beam'disposition of the conventional propeller shaft is avoided. In other words the thrust of the propeller is absorbed adjacent the source and not transferred to the engine gearing. This permits the use of propeller shafts of relatively small diameter. As a result the propeller shaft may be made more flexible to avoid tortional criticals occurring' at relatively high en- As more clearly shown in Fig. '7, the

gine revolutions per unit of time, as well as pre- 'venting shaft seizure due to the deflection of the vessels hull in a Seaway.

-While there have been shown two specific embodiments andv locations of thrust bearings for forward and astern propulsion, it is to be understood that 'the full oating water-lubricated propeller shaft feature of my invention may be utilized in conjunction with an assembly in which the thrust bearings are located inthe conventional manner in or on the hull of the vessel', or with the supporting Cutless non-metallic bearings arranged in any other relationship as long as the floating feature is retained.

Another important feature of the vinvention is the ease of assembly and replacement of the parts. TheY sleeve 1 being imbedded in the bracket 3, the rearvhalf ofthe sleeve extends rearwardly of thezbracltet.` The propeller and its hub carrying the bearing I3, I4 is slid into position from left to right as shown in Fig. l, and the splines 8' of the propeller shaft brought into engagement with the hub sleeve 9 in driving relationship. The screwing'on of the fairwater I0 on the stud II andthe 'keying ofthe same with the pin I2 completes this part of the assembly.

A removal of the assemblyis brought about by a 1. reversal of this ,asijeyibtihg'operation and a mere removal of theahaft fand the thrustbearing assembly including the sleeve 2| and Cutless" bearing 23V permits "the latter.

removal and replacement of claim: 1. In combination in a submersible marine propulsionV assembly, aVV stationary supporting .bracket carrying' a stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced `relation thereto, a propeller and hub in driven engagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve, and a water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried byv said` hub 'and disposed between said hub and said sleeve, and between said hub and said bracket, and a second water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried by a lmember carriedby said shaft and disposed between said member and said bracket.v

2. In combination in a submersible marine propulsion assembly, Va stationary supporting bracket carrying a stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced relation thereto, a propeller and hub in driven engagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve, and a water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried by said hub and disposed between said sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller.

shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced relation thereto, a propeller and hub in driven en'- gagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve, and, a water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried by said hub and disposed between said hub and said sleeve, and between said hub and said bracket, and a second water-lubricated nonmetallic bearing carried by a member carried by said sh'aft and disposed between Lsaid member and said bracket, said driven engagement comprising splines on the stern end of said shaft meshing with a sleeve carried by said hub, said propeller shaft being free from rotative bearing engage'- propulsion assembly, a stationary supporting bracket carrying a stationary cylindrical metallic and said bracket, saidfbearing between said hub and said bracket constituting a thrust bearing to operate as such during forward propulsion, said second named bearing constituting a thrust bearing to operate as such Vduring astern propulsion.-

6. In combination in a submersible marine 'propulsion assembly, a stationary supporting bracket carrying a stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly thereof, a full fioatirg propeller shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced ref lation thereto, a propeller and hub in driven en-y gagement `with said shaftv and -carried by said sleeve, and a water-lubricated non-metallic bearv ing carried by said hub and disposed between said hub and said sleeve, and between said hub and said bracket, .said bearing having registering radial and longitudinal channels to receivewater from the exterior to the'outer surface of 'said sleeve and registering channels insaid hub to discharge the water at the stern end of the assembly, said bearing` between said hub and said bracketlconstituting a' thrust bearing to operate as such `during forward propulsion.

7. In combination in a submersible marine propulsion assembly, a stationary supporting bracket carrying a stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller shaft extending .f through said sleeve in spaced relation thereto,fa propeller and hub in driven engagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve,- and a water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried by said hub and disposedbetween said huband said sleeve, and between said hub and' vand said bracket, said driven engagement comv-prising splines on the stern end of saidshaft sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced rehub and said sleeve, and between said hub andr said bracket, said lbearing having registering radial and longitudinal channels to receive water from the exterior to the'fouter surface of said sleeve and registering channels in said. hub to meshing with a sleeve carried bysaid hub, said propeller shaft being free from rotative bearing engagement with-any portion of said assembly, s

said bearingbetween said hub and said bracket constitutinga thrust bearing to operate as such during forward propulsion, said second named vbearing constituting a .thrust bearing to operate as such during astern propulsion.

`s. In combinati@ in a submersible' marine" propulsion assembly, a stationary supporting bracket carrying a'stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly. thereof, a full floating propellerV y shaft extending through said ksleeve in spaced relation thereto, `a propeller and hub in driven discharge the water at the stern end of `the assembly, said driven engagement comprising splines on the stern end of said shaft meshing with a sleeve carried by said hub, said propeller engagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve, and a water-lubricated non-metallic bearshaft being freefrom rotative bearing engagef ment with any portion of said assembly.

5. In combination in a -submersible marine propulsion assembly, a stationary supporting bracket carrying a stationary cylindrical metallic sleeve interiorly thereof, a full floating propeller shaft extending through said sleeve in spaced relation thereto, a propeller and hub in driven engagement with said shaft and carried by said sleeve, and a water-lubricated nonf-metallic bearing carried by said hub and disposed between said hub and said sleeve, and between said hub and said bracket, and a second water-lubricated non-metallic bearing carried by a member carried by said shaft and disposed;` between saidA member chargevthe water at the sternend ofthe assem.

bly, said driven engagement comprisingsplines on the stern vend of said shaft meshing with a sleeve carried by said hub, said propeller shaft being free from rotative vbearing engagement` with any portion of said assembly, said bearing between said huband,v said blracket constitutinsa thrust bearing to operate as such during forward propulsion. A .f

ALAN OSBOURNE. 

